European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 25, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 a the stars and stripes thursday july 25, 1991 Aspin flew Sununu Washington apr rep. Les Aspin chairman of the House armed services committee mixed personal and official business while travelling on military jets three times during the past year the Washington Post reported in wednesday s editions. The Wisconsin democrats blend of official and personal business while using taxpayer financed transportation was similar to practices that have brought White House chief of staff John Sununu under fire in recent months. J the Post said Aspin used military jets for 11 trips from May 1990 to May 1991, including two overseas and five to the nations capital from his Wisconsin District. He took about 20 commercial flights Between Washington and his Home District in the same period according to the report. Aspin issued a statement saying that a Only trips on which substantial official business is conducted Are made at government  a i maintain a full schedule of varied kinds of work not Only in Washington but when i travel As Well a the Post quoted the statement As saying. A from time to time travel records Are reviewed to make sure a proper balance is being maintained. Such a review is going on  Aspinw a use of military planes is not unique among members of Congress. The Post cited records released by the Pentagon showing lawmakers and their aides took 500 flights on military planes from May 1990 to May 1991. Many were to military bases and 80 percent were to Points within the United states according to the newspaper. The Post noted a two Day trip to Texas by Aspin aboard an air Force c-21, the military version of the twin engine Gates Learjet 35a, on aug. 13-14. The lawmaker toured two bases threatened with closure visiting Carswell fab and then holding a Dews conference before moving on to fort  says Aspin also attended two political fund raisers one a breakfast at a private club and made paid appearances at a computer Center and before a military Exchange group the Post said. It said the air Force needed three jets to accommodate his schedule and that the trip Cost the taxpayers $4,500. The Post said that on oct. 15, Aspin flew from Wisconsin to Washington. It quoted Aspin spokeswoman Lynn Reddy As saying initially that Aspin needed the plane to get Back for a $2,000 speech to the american Stock Exchange. He contributed the Money to Charity. Reddy later said the main reason was to attend meetings on the defense authorization Bill the newspaper reported. On March 18, the congressman used a military plane to return to Washington from a meeting in new York with an executive with the military contractor Grumman corp., and another person the Post said. It said the flight got him Back in time to attend an evening fund Raiser in the nations capital.3 sex students cleared in St. John s assault trial court officers escort defendants from left Matthew Grandinctti Andrew Draghi and Walter Gabrinowitz following their acquittal in new York. From wire reports new Vork three former St. Johns University students accused of forcing a woman to drink herself into a stupor and sexually attacking her were acquitted tuesday of All charges. The trial was the first stemming from an. Episode last year at the 19,000-student school the nations largest roman Catholic University and led to charges of criminal sodomy sexual abuse and other crimes against six male students. Walter Gabrinowitz 23 Andrew Draghi 22 Matthew Grandinetti 22, and their families burst into tears As the verdicts were read. But several onlookers shouted racial slogans As they left the courtroom. A i contended All along that it was a Challenge for this jury if it could Rise to the demands of Justice to convict three All american White boys for abuse they heaped upon a Black girl a said the Rev. Herbert Daughtry a civil rights activist who advised the woman and her family. The woman Wasny to in court for the verdict. The jury began deliberations july 17. Her family and Daughtry said previously that racism was an Issue the prosecutor downplayed that Angle. Stephen scaring Gabrinowitz a lawyer said a everyone assumed they were guilty. That a a  Queens District attorney Richard a. Brown said a i am of course  he added that the woman a has suffered deep scars which shall remain with her  Brown said he intended to a go Forward with the trial of the two remaining  he was referring to Michael Calandrillo 22, who is charged with first degree sodomy and other crimes and Adam Gerber 24, who was charged with first degree sexual abuse. The sixth indicted Man Joseph Reilly 21, pleaded guilty to reduced charges of second degree sexual abuse As part of a plea bargain in which he testified As a key witness for the prosecution. The prosecution alleged that Gabrinowitz Draghi and Grandinetti attacked the woman after she stopped at their off Campus House March 1, 1990. The defense contended the woman made suggestive remarks willingly drank alcohol and consented to whatever May have happened. Defense lawyers alternately argued that their clients were victims of mistaken identity that the woman lied because shed been scorned and that eyewitnesses lied to protect themselves. The woman 22, who lives in another state testified Halfway through the seven week trial in supreme court the states trial level court. She said she accepted a ride after a school activity from Calandrillo. He stopped at the House ostensibly for Gas Money. Then she said he verbally and physically pressured her to drink nearly three cups of a Vodka mixture and removed her shirt and Bra. As she repeatedly passed out the prosecution charged she was subjected to a unspeakable  witnesses said she appeared to resist As she was sodomized and fondled by several men while others watched. Tuesday night several jurors said they had not believed much of the testimony of the prosecution witnesses especially that of the woman. A there were just so Many inconsistencies and too Many lies in everyone a testimony a the jury Foreman Michael Fahid said. A there were just too Many  from new York naked Shakespeare new York a the upcoming Shakespeare in the Park production of a Midsummer night s dream will be in portuguese but officials Are expecting big crowds nevertheless. Some actors will be nude. The play is performed by Teatro do Orni Torrince a theater company from Brazil where people Are less body conscious said new York Shakespeare festival spokesman Richard Kornberg. Most of the nude and Semi nude performers play fairies and nymphs. Parks department spokesman Stewart Desmond said there a no question of censoring the play. A a it a not like we Haven t seen it All in new York a he said. Court orders King assault trial held outside los Angeles county los Angeles up an appeals court ordered the judge in the trial of four police officers accused in the Rodney King beating to take the trial out of los Angeles county. A so extensive and pervasive has been the coverage and so intense has become the political fallout potential jurors have been infected to the extent there is a reasonable likelihood that a fair and impartial trial cannot be heard in los Angeles county a the 2nd District court of appeals wrote tuesday. A while we recognize that the incident and some of its ramifications have received widespread publicity elsewhere the Impact on residents of los Angeles is unquestionably much greater because of the unabated and acrimonious total involvement of City officials and local Community leaders a the ruling said. The panel left the decision on where to move the trial to Superior court judge Bernard Kamins who has handled pretrial procedures and was scheduled to preside Over the trial. Granting the change of venue was viewed As surprising since attempts to move heavily publicized cases such As the night stalker Charles Manson and the Hillside Strangler failed on the grounds that los Angeles has such a vast Pool of potentially untainted jurors. Kamins had denied the defense change of venue motion holding that the jury Pool in los Angeles county is Large enough to draw a fair panel of 12. The March 3 beating of King a Black parolee was captured on videotape and sparked a Public outcry about allegations of policy brutality and racism. The Domino effect prompted an Independent investigation which led to the pending retirement of chief Daryl Gates. Deputy District attorney Alan Yochel son declined to comment tuesday on the ruling but said the venue matter May be addressed wednesday. The trial of sgt. Stacey Koon 40, and officers Laurence Powell 28, Timothy wind 31, and Theodore Briseno 38, has been on hold since the appeals court agreed to consider the change of venue motion